In her latest movie, Gravity, Sandra Bullock plays Dr Ryan Stone a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission alongside veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski. But on a seemingly routine mission, disaster strikes. Here, the actress and her co-star George Clooney talk about what it was like working together on such an out-of-this-world film.

Q: You must have had to do quite a lot of research for this role – what did you learn from the astronauts you spoke to?

SB: “I used to think that astronauts wanted to go into space for the thrill and adventure. When I spoke to them though, I was so moved by their deep, deep love of that world and the beauty of Earth from their perspective, seeing the oceans and mountain ranges and the lights of the cities. It’s amazing to realise how small we are in this massive universe.”

GC: “I grew up with the space race; I am a child of that era. I have always loved the idea of space exploration and am in awe of the people who do it. They really are the last of the great pioneers.”

SB: “It is heartbreaking to think about not only the destruction of this planet, but also about what we don’t see: the trash that is literally orbiting above us.”

Q: When we meet Mission Specialist Ryan Stone, she is all business, concentrating on the task at hand and not engaging in the playful exchange between the other astronauts and Mission Control. Why is she so focused?

SB: “Ryan suffered a devastating loss. When I started delving into the character, I had to ask myself what I would do, and I’d probably do exactly the same thing she did. She withdrew. When Alfonso (Cuarón) and I started talking about the character, it was clear we shared an understanding of her and also had the same questions. Why do we retreat when tragedy strikes, when being with others is what can save you? How often are we hit by life and won’t ask for help? In a way, what Ryan goes through is a compelling allegory for ‘Be careful what you wish for.’ She wanted to be alone and she got it.”

Q: How was working with Alfonso?

SB: “It was the most collaborative experience I’ve ever had. I’ve admired Alfonso for so long, but working with him exceeded all my expectations. He is a master filmmaker and collaborator, who makes everyone around him want to give their best. He’s also an extraordinary human being… I mean, someone who is not involved emotionally, philosophically and spiritually could not have made something so profound.”

Q: What were your reasons for wanting to do the film George?

GC: “I loved the screenplay, which is the first reason you ever want to make a film if you’re an actor. And I liked the character a lot; I thought he would be fun to play. Sandy and I have been good friends for very long time, but we never found the right vehicle for us to do something together. I have always had tremendous respect for her, and I couldn’t ask for a better partner to act with. And I think Alfonso Cuarón is one of the most interesting and talented directors we have. I honestly thought Children of Men was a masterpiece, and have wanted to work with him. So everything about this seemed like a great opportunity to me, and I was proud to be a part of it.”

Q: How do your characters compare with you guys in real life?

SB: “George is a life force. In many respects, he does parallel his character because Matt is the one who breathes life into every single moment; he loves nothing more than seeing the world from the vantage point of space. But what’s so electric about George isn’t just his face, it’s his voice. He has that voice that makes you feel like he’s a friend; he’s someone who has been there and can make you believe everything is going to be okay. It’s like that for Ryan with Matt. And that’s how George is to work with… until he starts causing trouble and then you have to watch your back every minute.”

Q: A special Lightbox was adapted to enable much of the filming, which Sandra, you spent a lot of time inside. What was that like?

SB: “There was no human connection, other than the voices coming through my little earwig, which helped because it made me feel so alone. I’m glad it was done the way it was done, as whenever I started to become frustrated or lonely or at a loss, I was like, ‘just use it… use it.'”

Q: And what about the wire system, which was used to give the sense of you floating through space?

SB: “We got into a nice sync where they (the puppeteering team) could tell the instant I turned my head which direction I wanted to go. They are true masters of the art. I pushed my body to the extreme. Strength-wise, I had to know I could do anything Alfonso asked of me at any given point, so not a day went by that we didn’t train. It was part of what I could contribute to what these brilliant minds built to execute Alfonso’s extraordinary story.”

Q: How would you sum up the film and your involvement in it?

GC: “This is a film with an exquisite filmmaker at the helm and a wonderful actress at its centre. It has themes that are unbelievably resonant, more than one might expect from a ‘space movie.’ It’s about coming to terms with your own death… or your own life and I believe it will start a lot of conversations."

SB: “Going into this film, I had no idea what I was capable of on so many levels, physically, emotionally and mentally. It was body-changing, mind-changing, mind-bending. I hope people who come on this amazing ride will leave the theatre also feeling transformed.”